Observer, Sept. 1, '72. The best thanks of the Meeting having been voted to the Chairman, Secretaries, and to the Leicester church for much kindly attention and for the varied arrangements, the Meeting concluded its last business sitting. SUNDAY SCHOOL CONFERENCE. Certain teachers in the Sunday school of the Leicester church invited, by circular, the teachers of other schools to a conference on Sunday school matters generally; to be held at such times during the Annual Meeting as they might then be able to fix. Brethren interested in the work agreed to devote to that purpose an hour each morning, from seven till eight. Bro. T. Coop presided. Papers were read by T. Thompson, from Birmingham, by J. Adam, for James Evans, of Manchester, and by R. Mumby, of Nottingham. The first was upon "The means requisite to retain our elder scholars; " the second upon Sunday Schools and Bands of Hope;" and the third upon "The proper Management of Sunday Schools." The papers were highly interesting. A summary is to be printed, and will be available for those engaged in school work. The conference is to be resumed in Wigan during the next Annual Meeting; the teachers of the Wigan school to make the requisite arrangements. THE SOCIAL MEETING. 66 Thursday evening contributed much to the pleasure of the Annual Meeting. Bro. I. K. Tener, from Ireland, presided. Short addresses were interspersed with praise and prayer. The speakers were Bren. B. Ellis, J. Rea, W. Hindle, R. Motte, T. Thompson, T. Dexter, H. Exley, D. Scott and others. The topics enlarged upon embraced Christian Union; Example better than Precept; Spiritual condition dependent upon the Pasture upon which we feed; Who we are, what is our object, and how we can accomplish it; The toil and darkness and the rests and light of our way; A word to Evangelists; The need of more Faith; The need of more Prayer; Christ in us the hope of glory; &c. THE PREACHING. The last Annual Meeting resolved "That the evangelists sustained by the General Fund, intending in future to attend the Annual Meeting, be required to hold themselves in readiness to aid the church in the town in which the meeting is held for ten days, including the Lord's-day previous and the one following the business meetings." Accordingly, the church in Leicester commenced its special effort on Lord's-day, August 4th, and availed itself of every opportunity, both out of doors and in. In the morning Bro. D. Scott set forth the "Necessity of fighting the good fight of Faith." Previous to the evening meeting he addressed an audience out of doors on the "Love of God to a guilty world." After which, in the chapel, he interested a large and attentive audience upon the certainty of the Resurrection of Christ, showing the importance of the doctrine, the nature of the evidence and its claims upon mankind. On Monday evening, weather being unfavourable for an outdoor effort, he addressed a meeting in the chapel on the "Claims of the Christian Religion." On Wednesday evening, in connection with the immersion of two persons into the name of Jesus, he discoursed on the "Relation of Christian ordinances to Christ." On this occasion Bro. Adam followed upon the "Nature of the church of Christ." On Friday evening Bro. Adam addressed a meeting, outside, on the value of the soul. Bro. Observer, Sept. 1, 72. Scott followed, showing what Christ had done for the soul, and urging upon the people the necessity of a complete and immediate surrender to the Saviour. On Saturday evening Bro. Adam addressed a large and attentive audience, out of doors, on the words: "Here we have no continuing city," &c. Bro. Scott followed, showing that "Christ is the only way into that city." On Lord's-day, August 11th, there was an excellent meeting in the morning, when the brethren convened to break bread. Bro. Adam discoursed upon the "Necessity of living for Christ." In the afternoon he addressed the Sunday school, while Bren. Brown, Scott and a few others held a meeting in the open air. Bro. Scott spoke on the "Goodness of God in giving us all things that pertain to life and godliness." Bro. Brown followed in a clear and impressive discourse on the words: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ," &c. Bro. Motte made a warm appeal for immediate personal examination. In the evening Bro. Scott addressed an out-door meeting on the "Necessity of and importance of conversion to Christ." Bro. Adam also spoke, in another part of the town, on the "Great Salvation." He was followed by Bro. Brown, who showed the steps to be taken in order to its enjoyment. After proceeding to the chapel it was found well filled, when Bro. Evans spoke on the "Second coming of Christ." Bro. Scott followed on the "Necessity of being prepared for the Lord's coming." During the meeting inside, Bro. Adam addressed a congregation in the open air upon the "Gospel as God's power to save." He was followed by Bro. Beaumont, who exhibited the practical outcome of glorying in the cross. On Monday evening Bro. Adam addressed a large and attentive audience in the open air upon 'Godliness, best for both worlds;" while Bren. Hindle and Brown conducted a meeting in the chapel. Bro. Brown gave an interesting and impressive address on the commission of Christ. Bro. Hindle followed with a warm and touching discourse upon "Christianity, a living reality." Lord's-day morning, August 18th, the church was addressed by Bren. Thompson, Adam and D. King. In the evening Bren. Adam and Thompson occupied two out-door stands and Bro. King preached in the chapel to an audience most attentive to the unfolding of the love and mercy of God. Some friends who came to the Annual Meeting on the Tuesday and left on the Friday have gone away under the impression that preaching opportunities were fewer this year than usual, seeing that during their stay there was no public meeting, the Wednesday evening having been devoted to the reading of the paper prepared by Bro. Tickle. But that impression is not only unfounded but completely the reverse of the case, as never before have we had so many preaching meetings in connection with the Annual Meeting. The difference is that the public services were commenced a week earlier. It is hoped that this arrangement will be adhered to. Have still more preaching meetings if you will, not during the days allotted to business, but continue them till the third or fourth week in August. The foregoing outline indicates the number of meetings and the topics set before the people. The reader will perceive that the preachers have been busy with the great elements of Christianity, and not with speculations and abstractions. REMARKS. There was a good attendance from churches far and near. The arrangements made by the Leicester church for the comfort of the visitors Observer, Sept. 1, '72. were highly appreciated. The tone of the meetings was good. An earnest prayerful spirit prevailed. The statistical information deduced from the schedules was not so compiled and completed as to give results sufficiently reliable for publication. On this head something may be said next month. The exceedingly interesting paper by G. Y. Tickle produced an unexpected result. It was deemed better to spend the remainder of the evening in prayer than in discussing the causes of divisions, &c. That the time was thus well spent cannot be doubted; the change was, seemingly, assented to by all present, and it was found good to be so engaged. Still the propriety of the course may be questioned. Excellent as the paper was it was not, and could not be, exhaustive. A year's notice had been given that the evening would be devoted to conference upon that topic, and several, at least, came with somewhat to suggest. There should be some very strong reason to justify departing from a deliberately-formed arrangement, which had been advertized for a year, and which all present expected to be carried out. The subject selected for next year is scarcely less important than the one just disposed of. But the question comes-Is the reading to be followed by conference upon the subject or otherwise? If it be understood that conference shall follow, others can, and will, give attention to the subject, and make ready somewhat to say; but leave it in uncertainty, and the motive which should impel to the contemplation of the theme is wanting. Let it, then, be understood that henceforth there shall certainly be opportunity for conference upon the subject of which the paper treats. Some good and useful thoughts may have been struggling for utterance after the reading by Bro. Tickle. If so let them be given in the E. O. The subject is wide and second to none in importance. Some among us comprehend it not. A series of useful papers relating thereto would not be out of place. Let us, by all means, have them, if men who understand the subject can give acceptable utterance to what they know. The Annual Meeting is now a thing of the past. Who will be spared to see another we are not permitted to know. Let us all strive to be ready if the Lord, in the meantime, call us away; and if He spare us another year let it be our's a good account to give. THE WESLEYAN CONFERENCE. THE Wesleyan Conference, recently held, declares a decrease of 240 members. The numbers stand thus-On trial, 51,717; New members, 34,852; Removals, 23,775; Ceased to meet in class, 19,570; Dead, 5,618; Emigrated, 386. Total last year, 347,090. Total this year, 346,850. Decrease, 240. The United Methodist Free Churches have also recently closed their Annual Conference. The Rev. G. Hargreaves reported a decrease of 732 members, which produced a painful impression upon the assembly. MODERN INFIDELITY. TO THE EDITOR OF THE BRIDGNORTH JOURNAL. SIR,-In the Birmingham Morning News of last Monday, there is a very long report of an "Anniversary Sermon," preached by George Dawson, minister of the "Church of the Saviour," King Edward's Street, Birming Observer, Sept. 1, '72. ham. As this paper has a circulation in Bridgnorth, I trust you will allow me a short space in the columns of your paper to warn your readers against the Infidel teachings of this modern "divine." The preacher, after reviewing the different sections of the religious world, and their religious features, goes on to say: "They (the Church of the Saviour) had rejected the Roman Church with its external authority, and they were beginning to learn to reject the Bible as the binding authority, irrespective of the conclusions of the religious faculty," and the leading feature in this sermon is to teach that we ought to receive those parts of the Bible approved by our conscience, and reject that which is not approved. He says there is a higher law than the Bible, viz., a man's conscience. To me, sir, it is very sad to read such expressions from an intelligent man, and a professed teacher of religion. How true it is that Satan transforms himself into an angel of light. Allow me, in a few words, to test this "higher law of conscience." Saul, of Tarsus, was a conscientious Jew, and he (in his zeal) put to death those who called on the name of Jesus. Why did he do this? Because he was obeying the higher law of his conscience." Hear his own testimony before King Agrippa: "I verily thought within myself, I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus-which thing I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints did I shut up in prison.' In obeying the law of his conscience was he right? Read his own opinion in 1 Timothy i. 12-18. His own view was that although he thought at the time he was "doing God's service," yet he was the "chief of sinners." "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are God's thoughts higher than ours;" and because puny man cannot reach them, or they are not suitable to his corrupt taste, therefore he rejects them as untrue. Truly the world, by human wisdom, knows not God. In pointing out some of the "errors of the Bible," Mr. Dawson says it teaches eternal torments. It is not my purpose here to argue this question, but Mr. Dawson says it does. I suppose his conscience says it does. But he preaches: "though all the apostles were to rise from the dead, and their Master too, and teach it, he would not believe them." Nay, he further adds (in effect): Though one should come back from the infernal regions, with the Scars of Hell' on him, he would not believe him." My reply to this is simply-BLASPHEMY. 66 The history of Christianity shows it has had its opponents from the first, but it as been reserved for these modern times, that its worst enemies shall be those of its own house. Allow me to conclude this short notice in the words of Paul: "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the traditions of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ."-Respectfully yours, 57, High Street, Bridgnorth, August 8th, 1872." Family Room. J. CARNDUFF. THE GOOD FAIRY OF THE HOUSE. WHEN we go down to the roots of things we are startled to find how great a part trifles, light as thistledown, play in the ordering of our lives, and the making of them gay or glum. God is so merciful that, as a rule, great misfortunes come upon us only at intervals—that is, when we look well to our outgoings and in-comings; for all that, we have a bad habit of calling the more frequent troubles, which are entirely of our own bringing on, the dispensations of Providence. We have our every-day lines in our hands, to do with them as we will. It depends on us whether the wheels within wheels of practical existence shall run smoothly or not; and their running smoothly depends upon things as minute as the atom of dust which throws all the complicated machinery of your watch out of order, when by chance it enters where it should not. Out of their appreciation of this fact, sprang that beautiful legend of the old-time folk, about a class of elves who frequently favoured households. These, while the inmates of the house slumbered, would mysteriously and noiselessly put all things in good order, so that the family, going to bed tired out with a hard day's work and leaving things in a snarl, on rising next morning with sore muscles and hearts that reluctantly foreboded half a day's work in putting things to rights, would find the floors swept, the dishes washed, the ashes cleaned out of the fire-place, and the faggots freshly laid, the tumbled contents of boxes and drawers sorted and laid smooth, while even the disordered workbasket of the good wife, with its tangled spools and its tussled skeins of silk and cotton had shared in the general reformation. I have often been reminded of this good fairy when I have seen a thoughtful housekeeper moving cautiously about after all the children were in bed setting back the chairs that were standing about the room just as the occupants left them, for somebody to stumble over in the dark, smoothing table covers, picking scraps from the carpet, putting up books and work that has been scattered here and there. Such an Observer, Sept. 1, '72. one would know how to prize a good fairy who would do all the dusting of the furniture while her back was turned, and follow in the traces of Bridget's capricious feather brush day after day! Such an one knows all the steps that must be taken, apart from those required for more pressing work, in putting away things that have been pulled out of their places, and in cleaning those that have been so used as to require it. The stooping down here, the reaching up there, this to smooth, that to pull straight, this other to put up right, and that other to lay flat -the winnowing of the chaff from the grain, as it were, in the removal of scraps left from different kinds of work, and which accumulate here and there, every day. Such an one will understand at once, what infinite good will toward man (and woman!) would dictate such magic services were they within the limits of reality. But there is certainly vouchsafed to us a good fairy whom we may all have at our bidding to do us service; keeping on good terms with her would save us five minutes here, and ten minutes there, of most precious time-for time always seems precious when we have to lose it against our will-so that when we came to reckon up her services of the day, it would actually be a saving of an hour, and often more, out of the twenty-four, to have er always at hand. Once in a while, too, she would save us not only whole hours, spent in ransacking from cellar to garret for something that we have mislaid, but even days and weeks of wearing anxiety during which we try in vain to remember the whereabouts of some important thing which we have put away too safely for finding -one of the misfortunes of habitually disorderly people who have, from time to time, spasms of being orderly. How many scowls, how many snarls, how many cross words and fits of impatience and heart-ache |